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Foster Announces Guest for 2018 State of the Union Address

Jan 24, 2018

Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) announced his guest for the State of Union Address next week. Ana Campa Castillo is a DREAMer who arrived in the United States from Mexico City when she was six years old.

“I’m proud of the thousands of DREAMers who have come forward to share their stories. The work that Ana has done is just one of the examples of the great contributions these young people make to our society,” Foster said. “In my district, Ana is a shining example of the American dream. DREAMers like Ana are hardworking, driven, and patriotic, so it’s unfortunate that President Trump and Republican Leadership in Congress have chosen to use them as pawns in the legislative process. I hope her presence tonight will remind my colleagues to bring up the DREAM Act for a clean vote and tell President Trump why it’s so important these young people stay in the United States.”

“I am honored to be able to attend the State of the Union with Congressman. My parents brought me to the United States so that I could have a life full of opportunities,” Campa Castillo said. “I know firsthand how difficult it is for DREAMers to imagine leaving one of the few places they have called home. It’s not surprising that President Trump rescinded DACA, but it’s a decision that calls on us to empower people like me to speak up and work for a solution.”

Ana Campa Castillo is a graduate of Bolingbrook High School and is currently pursuing an associate’s degree in psychology at Joliet Junior College. She serves as the Vice President of Latinos Unidos, one of the largest student organizations.

In September 2017, the Trump Administration announced it would end the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program that allowed minors brought to the United States deferred action on deportation provided they meet rigorous standards. An estimated 800,000 individuals in the country qualify for the program.